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In part 1, we discussed several items that you should consider when evaluating candidates for the role of fire department public information officer (PIO). As you saw it isn’t easy. Let’s examine a few more considerations to help you round out a good evaluation process. The...

The role of a public information officer (PIO) within your organization must be highly considered within this new age of social media. As the demand for current information rapidly evolves so must you and your organization to these demands. The only way to keep ahead of this and...

Have you ever thought of what your department’s social media IQ is? How would your department measure theirs? What does this mean to you as a firefighter? Is it important? Actually it means a lot and you need to know why. As the fire service evolves  daily the more it...

Technology today has its eyes on everyone and everything, and it can be sent around the world in an instant, and there is nearly no stopping it. I tell my guys that as soon as the bay doors open someone’s watching. Not only are they watching, but our words and actions are being...

With the advent of social media the fire service can now tell the public, their customer, about what they are doing faster than ever before. No longer do they have to wait until a press release is written, distributed to the news media, and for the media to print it (or maybe...

Each and every PIO/spokesperson needs to follow these rules/guidelines to be successful in their job. Remember you are the face of your department and are highly visible. Represent well with a strong voice, articulate words, and positive presence. PIO Commandment #1: always...

In part 1 of this two part series we will discuss how your organization can protect itself from a public relations crisis by establishing a standard operating procedure (SOP) on social media. A good social media policy is something that every fire and EMS department should have...

  Does your fire/EMS organization have a Public Information Officer or Spokesperson? When the world of today wants their news as fast as possible and news agencies are jockeying for that first incident headline and the dramatic “wow” photo, the fire service PIO or public...